Davy Condon (born ~1984/1985) is an Irish

National hunt racing National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, horse racing in Great Britain, Great Britain and horse racing in Ireland, Ireland. Jump Racin ...

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

and

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Condon’s father, Michael Condon, was an amateur jockey. His father rode for Jimmy Murphy and

Charles Byrnes Charles Joseph Byrnes (1835 – 22 October 1917) was an Australian politician. He was born in Parramatta, the youngest son of Ruth Barber and James Byrnes, a storekeeper and early New South Wales politician. His uncle William was also a mem ...

, but a fall that left him in a coma cut his career short with just one win to his credit. His nephew Richard is also a jockey and had a winner at the Cheltenham festival in 2021 on Heaven Help Us. His grandfather,

Gerry Townend Gerry is both a surname and a masculine or feminine given name. As a given name, it is often a short form (hypocorism) of Gerard, Gerald or Geraldine. Notable people with the name include: Surname *Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), fifth US vice pres ...

, was also a notable amateur jockey.Jockey David is riding on the crest of a wave
, archives.tcm.ie, 3 March 2003, accessed 24 January 2010. Condon retired in 2015 after a spinal injury.

Career

After graduating from the

pony racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

circuit, Condon was discovered by

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them good behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which ...

Willie Mullins William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse horse trainer, trainer and former jockey. He is a nineteen-time List of Irish National Hunt races, Irish National Hunt Champion trainer. Mullins is the most successful traine ...

. At the age of 16, Condon made his first appearance as a jockey at Tipperary on 25 May 2001. That August, Condon got his first victory, winning atop

Slaney Boy Slaney is a surname. Notable people with this surname include: * Geoffrey Slaney (1922–2016), British surgeon and academic * Ivor Slaney (1921–1998), England musical composer and conductor * John Slaney (born 1972), Canadian ice hockey pla ...

in a handicap race at

Tramore Tramore (; ) is a seaside town in County Waterford, on the southeast coast of Ireland. It has a population of 11,277 as per the 2022 census, the second largest town in the county. Overview Originally a small fishing village, the area saw rapi ...

. Just one day later, Condon found himself in the winner’s circle once again at Tramore, winning another handicap race with Knockatotaun. The next month, Condon was part of a winning double at

Gowran Park Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annely Estate near the village of Gowran. The first meeting was held in 1914. and the first ever racecourse commentary in Ireland took place here in 1952. Gowra ...

. Later in the season, Condon won again, this time while riding

Flying Boat A flying boat is a type of seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in having a fuselage that is purpose-designed for flotation, while floatplanes rely on fuselage-mounted floats for buoyancy. Though ...

to a win at

Cork "Cork" or "CORK" may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Stopper (plug), or "cork", a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container *** Wine cork an item to seal or reseal wine Places Ireland * ...

. The win at Cork gave Condon five in his inaugural campaign. In 2002, Condon won a total of 27 races. He finished second to Tadhg O'Shea in the race for the Champion Apprentice title, winning four less races, but taking 161 less rides than O'Shea during the season. In 2003, Condon won 22 flat races, many of those coming while riding

Holy Orders In certain Christian denominations, holy orders are the ordination, ordained ministries of bishop, priest (presbyter), and deacon, and the sacrament or rite by which candidates are ordained to those orders. Churches recognizing these orders inclu ...

. He also won on Definite Best in the

Irish Cambridgeshire Irish commonly refers to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the island and the sovereign state ***Erse (disambiguatio ...

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...

. Condon followed 2003 with similar success in 2004, winning a total of 21 flat races. Like the previous season, much of his success in 2004 was atop Holy Orders. However, after riding Holy Orders to a fourth-place finish at

Musselburgh Musselburgh (; ; ) is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, east of Edinburgh city centre. It had a population of as of . History The name Musselburgh is Old English language, Old English in ...

late in the year, Condon began to look at the prospects of switching to National hunt racing. His first season on the National hunt circuit was unsuccessful, as he won just nine races. It was not until the 2006/07 racing season that Condon began to make an impact in National hunt racing. Under the tutelage of Willie Mullins, Condon made his presence known by accumulating 26 victories. Condon rode Homer Wells to significant wins in the

Thyestes Chase The Thyestes Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt handicap steeplechase run in Ireland. It takes place at Gowran Park Racecourse, Gowran, County Kilkenny in January, over a distance of about 3 miles and ...

at Gowran ParkRecord crowds at Thyestes Chase
, kilkennypeople.ie, 31 January 2007, accessed 24 January 2010. and the

Bobbyjo Chase The Bobbyjo Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland. It is run at Fairyhouse Racecourse in February, over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (5,029 metres) and during the race there are t ...

Fairyhouse Fairyhouse Racecourse is a horse racing venue in Ireland. It is situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, off the N3. It hosted its first race in 1848 and since 1870 has been the home of the Irish Grand ...

.Today's racing at Fairyhouse reviewed
rte.ie, 24 February 2007, accessed 24 January 2010. However, perhaps Condon’s most notable win in the 2006/07 season came when he rode Ebaziyan, a 40-1 underdog, to a win in the

Supreme Novices' Hurdle The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance o ...

. Condon matched his 2006/07 success with 26 more wins in 2007/08, capped with a win in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the

Punchestown Festival Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

atop

Emma Jane Emma A. Jane (born 1969), previously known as Emma Tom, is an Australian professor, author, and journalist. She once wrote a weekly column for ''The Australian'' and made regular appearances on Australian television and radio. She received an ...

. In 2008, Condon became the stable jockey for

Nicky Richards Nicholas Gordon Richards (born 25 February 1956 in Alnwick, Northumberland) is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria, England He was British champion ...

.Davy Condon to be first jockey to Nicky Richards
telegraph.co.uk, 21 May 2008, accessed 24 January 2010. During the season, he went on to win 24 races, including wins in the Peterborough Chase on Monet's Garden and the Scottish Champion Hurdle on Noble Alan. In 2009, Condon decided to leave Richards in favor of returning to Ireland,Condon set for return to Ireland
, rte.ie, 10 May 2009, accessed 24 January 2010. teaming up with

Noel Meade Noel Meade is a horse trainer from Castletown, County Meath, Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in County Meath as a place to train his horses. Early career: flat racing Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, ...

. He has since taken over for the suspended

Paul Carberry Paul Carberry is a retired Irish National Hunt jockey. Background He was born on 9 February 1974.

Lexus Chase rescued from fog of confusion
timesonline.co.uk, 29 December 2009, accessed 24 January 2010. and found great success in the process, winning a total of five Grade 1 races, including the Drinmore Novice Chase and Knight Frank Novice Chase with Pandorama, the

Future Champions Novice Hurdle The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse at the end of December during the Christmas Festival, over a distance of about 2 ...

on Hollo Ladies, and the

Fighting Fifth Hurdle The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years or older. It is r ...

and

Christmas Hurdle The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 m ...

Go Native Go native or variants may refer to: * Go Native, an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse Going Native *''Going Native'', travel book by Eric Muspratt 1936 *''Going Native'', by Oliver St John Gogarty 1940 *''Going Native'', novel by Stephen Wright 1 ...

.Davy Condon: Big-Race Wins
racingpost.com, accessed 24 January 2010. He retired in 2015 after falling in the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

Major wins

Ireland * Ryanair Gold Cup - (1) Realt Mor (2013) * Fort Leney Novice Chase – (1) Pandorama (2009) *

– (1) Hollo Ladies (2009) * Drinmore Novice Chase – (1) Pandorama (2009) ----

– (1) Ebaziyan (2007) *

– (1)

(2009) *

– (1)

(2009)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Condon, Davy Irish jockeys Living people Year of birth uncertain Year of birth missing (living people) Equestrians from County Waterford 1980s births ja:フレディ・ヘッド